Mastermind of Mirage
Pokémon: The Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon was a 10th anniversary special, aired in April of 2006. To celebrate, the special was uniquely aired in the west before the east. It aired on a Warner Brother’s channel, in the U.S.A. During it’s first airing, a special event occurred where participants could enter code-word “MEW” online, to win a copy of Pokémon Trozei, or a 10th anniversary Pikachu Plush. This original airing has been preserved, but given the legality of the issue, I don’t wish to provide links.
Later, the special was re-dubbed again, and placed onto a bonus DVD for Lucario and the Mystery of Mew. This re-dub version can be bought online, sold alongside Lucario and the Mystery of Mew, and is currently the only legal way to watch the special. It is on no streaming services, and is no longer aired live.
The Mirage Master section of the back of the DVD case reads, “Filled with drama, action, and suspense, this is a must-see adventure for all Pokemon fans! A Pokemon scientist named Dr. Yung has invented a Mirage System that can recreate extinct Pokemon. Ash, Misty, and Professor Oak are asked to help test it out, but the Mirage System is suddenly taken over by a being called the Mirage Master! It’s up to Ash and his friends to stop this mysterious villain - but when the Mirage Master steals classified Pokemon data and creates a Mirage Pokemon so powerful that Ash and Pikachu can’t defeat it, will our heroes still find a way to save the day?”
The best way to tell if you’re watching the original, or the re-dub, is the scene where Dr. Yung reveals himself to be Mirage Master. In the original, Ash says “Mirage Master’s Dr. Yung?!” while in the re-dub, Ash says “Mr. Mirage was Dr. Yung?!” incorrectly referring to Mirage Master as his Japanese name, rather than the localized version.
Not featured on Bulbapedia, for both the special and Dr. Yung, is a special letter from Director Kunihiko Yuyama, which can be found on the DVD. Since I purchased the DVD, I can give you the full letter!
“Reflecting on 10 years of Pokemon, by Director Kunihiko Yuyama.
1. Concerning the special. Our aim with the special is to convey the growth and evolution of Pokemon over the past 10 years. The world of Pokemon contains a real-life computer network that, when we started, would not have ever been imaginable. A familiar cast of characters, a variety of Legendary and rare Pokemon, and the widely adored team of Ash and Pikachu have come together, showing the unique bond between people and Pokemon in battle and friendship through an ever-expanding story. We hope that long-time fans of the Pokemon series as well as newcomers will be able to enjoy the special we have planned.
2. A special message for American fans.
Pokemon has been able to draw influence from seemingly everything while producing something that is unlike anything else. I believe that is the very key to Pokemon’s success worldwide. But it was kids in America who were the first to understand the appeal of our brand of entertainment. The warm encouragement received from American fans has been both a joy and an inspiration to the series’ creators.
We would like to take this opportunity to promise that the world of Pokemon will continue to expand and evolve. We greatly appreciate each and every one of our fans. Thank you very much.”
In terms of music, the special reuses soundtracks from other Pokemon anime media, the most comprehensive collection being found here. All songs are listed in the order they appear in the special, with the only exceptions being songs not on YouTube. I myself noticed that the song that briefly plays prior to Mirage Aggron’s malfunctioning is absent. Some unreleased tracks have SFX from their movie of origin. Pikachu’s Secret Jukebox is a lifesaver.
I’ve also voted for most of the triggers the special may contain on Does The Dog Die, since I care for the special deeply, and I appear to have been the only person to vote on it there. If you have triggers you wish to check for, and are interested in watching, I recommend checking.
Later, the special was re-dubbed again, and placed onto a bonus DVD for Lucario and the Mystery of Mew. This re-dub version can be bought online, sold alongside Lucario and the Mystery of Mew, and is currently the only legal way to watch the special. It is on no streaming services, and is no longer aired live.
The Mirage Master section of the back of the DVD case reads, “Filled with drama, action, and suspense, this is a must-see adventure for all Pokemon fans! A Pokemon scientist named Dr. Yung has invented a Mirage System that can recreate extinct Pokemon. Ash, Misty, and Professor Oak are asked to help test it out, but the Mirage System is suddenly taken over by a being called the Mirage Master! It’s up to Ash and his friends to stop this mysterious villain - but when the Mirage Master steals classified Pokemon data and creates a Mirage Pokemon so powerful that Ash and Pikachu can’t defeat it, will our heroes still find a way to save the day?”
The best way to tell if you’re watching the original, or the re-dub, is the scene where Dr. Yung reveals himself to be Mirage Master. In the original, Ash says “Mirage Master’s Dr. Yung?!” while in the re-dub, Ash says “Mr. Mirage was Dr. Yung?!” incorrectly referring to Mirage Master as his Japanese name, rather than the localized version.
Not featured on Bulbapedia, for both the special and Dr. Yung, is a special letter from Director Kunihiko Yuyama, which can be found on the DVD. Since I purchased the DVD, I can give you the full letter!
“Reflecting on 10 years of Pokemon, by Director Kunihiko Yuyama.
1. Concerning the special. Our aim with the special is to convey the growth and evolution of Pokemon over the past 10 years. The world of Pokemon contains a real-life computer network that, when we started, would not have ever been imaginable. A familiar cast of characters, a variety of Legendary and rare Pokemon, and the widely adored team of Ash and Pikachu have come together, showing the unique bond between people and Pokemon in battle and friendship through an ever-expanding story. We hope that long-time fans of the Pokemon series as well as newcomers will be able to enjoy the special we have planned.
2. A special message for American fans.
Pokemon has been able to draw influence from seemingly everything while producing something that is unlike anything else. I believe that is the very key to Pokemon’s success worldwide. But it was kids in America who were the first to understand the appeal of our brand of entertainment. The warm encouragement received from American fans has been both a joy and an inspiration to the series’ creators.
We would like to take this opportunity to promise that the world of Pokemon will continue to expand and evolve. We greatly appreciate each and every one of our fans. Thank you very much.”
In terms of music, the special reuses soundtracks from other Pokemon anime media, the most comprehensive collection being found here. All songs are listed in the order they appear in the special, with the only exceptions being songs not on YouTube. I myself noticed that the song that briefly plays prior to Mirage Aggron’s malfunctioning is absent. Some unreleased tracks have SFX from their movie of origin. Pikachu’s Secret Jukebox is a lifesaver.
I’ve also voted for most of the triggers the special may contain on Does The Dog Die, since I care for the special deeply, and I appear to have been the only person to vote on it there. If you have triggers you wish to check for, and are interested in watching, I recommend checking.